CONDO-BOARD POWERS AND DUTIES

Amends the Condominium Property Act. Prohibits directors from voting by proxy or by secret ballot at board meetings with the exception that secret ballots may be used in the election of officers. Prohibits voting by proxy or by secret ballot at any meeting or special meeting if a final decision may be made affecting (i) the expenditure of association funds; and (ii) architectural decisions affecting a unit owner's residential property. Requires removal from the board members who have been charged with a number of crimes including but not limited to (i) forgery of a ballot envelope or voting certificate used in a homeowners' association election; (ii) theft or embezzlement involving the association's funds or property; and destruction of or the refusal to allow inspection or copying of an official record of a homeowners' association which is accessible to parcel owners within the time periods required by law in furtherance of any crime. Provides that if charges are resolved without a finding of guilt or without acceptance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the member of the board shall be reinstated for any remainder of their term. Requires members of the board who are appointed by the developer to disclose to the association their relationship to the developer each calendar year in which they serve on the board. Requires members appointed by the developer must disclose any other activity that may reasonably be construed to be a conflict of interest. Provides that members of the board must disclose any activity that may be reasonably construed to be a conflict of interest at least 14 days before voting on an issue or entering into a contract that is the subject of the conflict. Imposes a fine of not more than $2,500 if the board fails to provide documents to any member of the association as provided in this Act. Requires that the declaration or bylaws of a condominium association require mediation or arbitration of disputes in which the matter in controversy has either no specific monetary value or a value of $10,000 or less, other than the levying and collection of assessments, or that arises out of violations of the declaration, bylaws, or rules and regulations of the condominium association. Provides that the declaration or bylaws of a condominium association may require mediation or arbitration of disputes for all other disputes.